As the return flights of pilgrims from Saudi Arabia begins, Nigeria’s maiden flight today has Sokoto State contingent with over 400 pilgrims and one official.
Liberty News Correspondent in Makkah, Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir reports that the first flight left the King Abdul-Aziz International Airport, Jeddah at about 12 noon Nigerian time, which is 2 o’clock Saudi time, to Nigeria.
The Sokoto contingent, which comprises four 426 pilgrims and one official, is expected to land at the Sultan Abubakar International Airport, Sokoto around 6pm Nigerian time, which is 4pm Saudi Arabian time.
It could be recalled that the Head of Aviation Unit of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Umar Sanda Goni had hinted during the post-Arafat conference, that they would not have full capacity of the airlines due to traffic of the return flights.
However, he noted a policy of the Saudi authorities to checkmate anything untoward at the King Abdul-Aziz International Airport, Jeddah.
Furthermore, he added that all airlifts out of Saudi Arabia are expected to be concluded on 4th August, 2023.
Nigeria had 95,000 pilgrims to the 2023 Hajj exercise, with total deaths of six pilgrims as of today.
